Improve



T2 Sheets--Sheet l.

Stump-Elevators.

Patented Dec. 22,1874.

'miussasz UNITED S'r BENJAMIN W. THURMAN, OF

rrrcn.

ATENT GORDONSVILLE, VIRGINIA.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 158,150, dated December 22, 1874; application filed i December 9, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN W. THUR- MAN, of Gordonsville, in the county of Orange and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stump-EX- tractors, of which the following is a specifica- Ihis invention has for its object to furnish a simple and convenient grubbin g and stumpextracting machine, whereby stumps and trees can be extracted from the ground with ease and dispatch, and with a less expenditure of power than is required in machines heretofore devised for the same purpose. The invention consists in the employment of a long powerlever, which is carried by, and has its fulcrum on, a small wheeled truck, or it may be fulcrumed or journaled by means of a horizontal shaft or cylinder `in a large frame mounted on wheels or on runners, said lever carrying at the end, near the fulcrum-point, a chain or flexible connection of the clamp attached to the tree, said `chain passing over a pivoted arm on the upper side of the lever, so as to enable it to be tightened by inserting a block or wedge under the arm.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a side elevation of the clamp power-lever, and of a large frame, on Which the stump-eXtract ing devices are mounted when in operation. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modification of my invention, representing the power-lever journaled or fulcrumed in a wheeled frame. Fig. 4 is a plan or top view ofthe same. Fig. 5 is a detached view of the clamp.

In stump-extractors heretofore in use great difficulty has been encountered in securing the extracting mechanism to the stump. Chains and other devices will slip when the lifting power is applied, by reason of the fact that the bark, when stripped from the trunk, leaves the same smooth or slippery, rendering a firm hold of the chain impossible. I propose to avoid these defects by constructing and using a bisected or divided clamp, A, which is composed of two parts, hinged together at one end, and connected at the other end with the extracting mechanism by means of a chain, B, which is attached to one part of the clamp and passes through a ring, C, at the end of the other part. The clamp is provided with teeth or serrations D on its inner sides, which will penetrate the wood of the stump, and thus secure the firm connection of the clamp to the same. The chain B is attached to the end of a long power-lever, E, which has an enlarged head, and is mounted, in one form of my invention, on a small wheeled truck, F, consisting essentially of an axle, a pair of wheels, a reach, and side hounds. rIhe end of the reach is bolted to the lever, and the aXle supports said lever and serves as the fulcruni for the same. The clamp is iirst applied to the stump, and then the lever is gradually turned on its fulcrum by a downward force applied to its longer portion. This will cause a powerful lifting force to be exerted upon the stump through the medium of a clamp, which speedily insures the raising of the stump or other object.

I contemplate using the devices above described singly, as a xed object on the ground may serve to prevent the machine from being displaced when the lever is being operated. When operated by hand I propose lengtheningI the lever, so as to obtain greater purchase, and for this purpose keepers or loops c are attached to the main lever, as seen in Fig. l.

For convenience in applying the draft force, and in large machines, it is proposed that a frame, I, be used, the same being mounted on wheels, as shown in Fig. 3, or on runners, as represented in Fig. 2. Said frame possesses a scaibldshaped superstructure over a pulley, P, on which passes a rope, M, used for raising the lever. The lever is generally operated by a rope and tackle, N, the sheaves being attached to the lever and base-frame, and the rope extended to the draft-power. The truck-frame of the lever may be dispensed with, a transverse axle or shaft, Q, being employed in this instance of my invention, as shown in Fig. 3. Said shaft or aXle is journaled by means of gudgeons a in blocks or cheeks R, applied to the side sills of the frame. An arm, 0, pivoted at the end of the lever, near the fulcrum-point, moves up and down in a guide or keeper on the upper side of the lever. The chain B passes over said arm, and its object is to permit the chain to be tightened by inserting a block or wedge under the arm so as to hold it in an elevated In testimony that I claim the foregoingI position. have hereunto set my hand.

What I claim is- The combination of the long power-lever E, BENJAMIN W' THURMAN' the pivoted arm O, the connecting-chain B, Witnesses: and the hinged or divided clamp A, substan- J AMES L. NORRIS,

tially as described. JOS. L. COOMBS. 

